Pennsylvania School Sticks to Zero Tolerance Policy on... Chewing Gum?

As reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, a Pennsylvania middle school student recently received a 3-day suspension for sharing "contraband" with a classmate. Reportedly, the unnamed student shared a piece of Jolt chewing gum, which contains caffeine. The gum is "a stimulant that has no other redeeming quality," said Superintendent Amy Palermo.

The school policy precludes students from possessing a stimulant on school grounds. The school has soda machines, but they are not turned on during school hours and drinks containing caffeine are not sold in the lunchroom. School officials confirmed that there are no negative consequences for a student who brings a soft drink to school in a packed lunch, noting that the school cannot control what parents put in their children's lunches.

Superintendent Palermo noted that the student got in trouble when she shared the gum with a classmate. "What if the gum had been given to a student with a heart condition?" The Superintendent added, defending her decision. "As a parent, would you want your child to be able to get that type of product?"